Diversity

Equality and diversity is important to us. We aim to achieve the highest professional standards and expect our team to demonstrate courtesy to and respect for colleagues, clients and others at all times. We have policies and procedures designed to ensure that discrimination does not occur.

Our policies relating to equality and diversity are reviewed annually.

We are regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and, as a regulated practice, we are required to annually collect, report and publish data on the diversity of our workforce annually. We have made our report to the SRA on our 2017 diversity data.

In June 2017 our team was asked to complete an anonymous diversity questionnaire. Completion of the questionnaire is not mandatory, and of 43 members of staff, 28 chose to complete the questionnaire. Of those who chose to complete it, many opted for 'Prefer not to say' in answer to some of the questions.

The survey results are set out below.

• Age - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, 1 was in the age range 16-24, ten were in the age range 25-34, eight were in the age range 35-44,eight were in the age range 45-54, none were in the age range 55-64, none over the age of 65 and one preferred not to say.
• Gender - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire 22 were female, 4 were male and one preferred not to say and one identified with a gender other than that at birth.
• Ethnicity - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, one was of another ethnicity not specified, one was British Indian,  twenty four were White - British/English/Welsh/N.Irish/Scottish, two declined to respond.
• Role within the firm - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, 1 was a business owner, eleven were solicitors and sixteen were other staff members.
• Socio-economic background (education) and caring responsibilities - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, twenty six mainly attended State School between the ages of 11 and 18, one was educated overseas and one declined to answer.

Fourteen of those who responded attended University and four of these were not the first generation of their family to do so. 

Fifteen staff members were primary carers for a child under eighteen. Twelve members of staff did not have primary responsibility for children, and one preferred not to say.

Three members of staff look after or give help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others due to long term physical or mental ill-health/disability or problems related to old age.

• Disability - Of those members of staff that answered the questionnaire, one considered themselves to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act 2010, and their day-to-day activities were limited a lot because of a health problem or disability which has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. 
• Sexual orientation, religion and belief - There is no requirement to publish the answers given to questions on the above.

If you have any queries regarding equality and diversity in relation to Pickerings Solicitors, contact Business Manager Sue Hatton on 01827 317073  or shatton@pickerings-solicitors.com